Adjustable bed mechanism for caskets



June 24, 1958 E. F. HARTER ADJUSTABLE BED MECHANISM FOR GASKETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1956 INVENTOR EDGAR E HARTER BY E lwm' ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 E. F. HARTER ADJUSTABLE BED MECHANISM FOR GASKETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21. 1956 INVEN TOR FIG-2 EDGAR F. HARTER BY W m ATTORNEYS Patented 2,839,814 r V v V ADJUSTABLE BED MECHANISM FOR GASKETS Edgar F. Harter, Springfield, hio, assignor to The Springfield Metallic Casket Co., Inc., Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio l I p I J Appli cation May 21, 1956, Serial No. 586,180

' 4 Claims. (11. 27-12 This invention relates to improvements in casket-bed tilting mechanisms. l The primary object of this invention is to provide within the end of the casket aha-nd-actuable tilting mechanism' for tilting the end of a casket bed mounted on the mechanism. 7 I

An important object ofthis invention is to provide casket-bed tilting mechanisms having a novel handactuated rod within hand reach of the upper end of a casket whereby the casket may be conveniently tilted by a funeral director without disturbing the corpse on the bed.

A principal object of the invention is to provide in a casket-bedtilting mechanism a novelfarrangement of a but which has a force-transmitting connection with the remainder of the tilting mechanism for eifecting tilting 0 a casket bed supported on the mechanism. Yet another object of-the invention is to provide a casket-bed tilting mechanism which is of simple, inexpensive andimproved construction, composed of few; simple, readily assembled components, all so constructed and arranged as to preclude derangement of the same.

non-rotatable slidable hand-operable rod which is free of connections with the casket at its upper and lower ends,"

The invention will be more fully understood by ref.-''

erence to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein: a

Figure 1 is a plan view of a casket embodying the structure of invention, shown with portions broken'away; I:

Figure 2 is a view taken'along line 22 of Figure 1}" Figure 3 is aleft hand elevational view of the structure of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is asectional view taken along line 4 40fv Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 -5 of Figure 2; and a Figure 6 is a perspective view of the structures of Figures 2 and 3, but illustrating a mechanism in a tilted position with the casket-bed being shown indot-dash line.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, there is indicated generally at 1 in Figure 1 a full couch casket having a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, end walls 4, a bottom wall 5 and a lid 6.

The body of the-casket indicated generally by the 5 numeral 7 has an inwardly extending peripheral rim 9.

Within the interior of the body of the casket there is provided, generally indicated by the numeral 12, a longitudinally extending casket bed having angle-iron sideframes 14 and angle-iron end frames '16.

This bed is most suitably of a flexible type andis pro-' casket may. be. identical with that atthe foot end'only' the mechanism 20 will be described in detail.

The supporting structure for the adjusting mechanism 20 includes a panel 22 which is supported from the rim 9 by nut and bolt assemblies most clearly shown at 23 in Figure 2. The supporting structure further includes a screw 24 which extends in substantial parallelism with the end wall 4; and which is provided at its upper end with a tool receiving operating head'25. At its lower end screw 24 is journalled in a cup26 mounted on a thrust taking bracket 27 of angle shape (Figure 3) and which is suitably welded to a re-entrant portion 28 on the bottom wall 5. Screw 24 is thus free for. rotative movement but restricted against longitudinal movement.

As shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3 screw 24 receives spaced cut-out portions 29, 30 of a bearing plate 31; the cut-out portions. form a skeletal nut to provide for movement of the bearing plate on the screw 24 when the head25 is operated.

The tilting mechanism comprises a tilt plate 32 which extends substantially co-extensive with the bearing plate 31 and is tiltable with respect to the plate 31. For tilting of the plate 32 there is provided a rivet 33 which passes through the tilt plate and bearing plate at the region of the screw 24. r

The tilt. plate 32 extends transversely of the length of the casket and is tiltable in a vertical plane. A guide pin 34 carried by the bearing plate 31 passes through an arcuate slot 35 in the tilt plate at one end thereof and serves as one guide for the tilting plate in its movement. At its other end the tilting plate is provided with fastening means indicated generally at 36 for fixedly securing the tilt plate'to the bearing plate in an adjusted position of the tilt plate. The fastening means comprises a headed guide pin 37 of a screw 38 which passes through overlying slots 39, 40 in'the tilt and bearing plates, respectively.

At its rearward end toward the wall 4 the screw 38 is provided with a relatively large washer 41 and a thumb screw 42. Tightening of the thumb screw draws the bearing plate and tilt plate together securely. At its left hand end, as shown in'Figure 2, the'tilt plate 32 carries a bracket 43 which is of substantially C shape, having 'fingers 44, 45 which are spot-welded to the tilt plate.

end wall 4 inwardly thereof towards the body of the.

casket. The rod at its upper end is provided with a chromed knob 50 which is within hand reach of the top The rod at its lower end is also free and adapted to normally rest upon the bottomofthe end wall of the casket.

wall 5 of thecasket. Therod at its lower' end is apertured and receives therethrough a cotter pin 51. The rod 49 may be slid upwardly withlrespect to the bracket 43 until the cotter pin 51 engagesagainst the metallic. strap 47 and in the loosened position of the fastening means 36 the rod, through the force-transmitting connection between the cotter pin 51 and the strap 47, is efiectiveto tilt the plate. 32 on the bearing plate 31 in a clockwise "dir'ectiohtFigure 6). In the opposite direction of movement the knob 50 engages the metallic strap 48 providing for tilting movement counter-clockwise.

The tilt plate 32 is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting angle irons 52 which are secured to the tilt 3 plate as by rivets as at 53. The horizontally extending portion 54 of the angle irons 52 is slotted longitudinally at 55 to receive the shanks of headed rivets 56 carried by the end frame 16 of the. bed. AS will be, clear this con.. nection provides forfree movement of the bed longit dinally of the casket with respect to the adjusting. mechanism, andthe foot end of the bed may thereby bepositioned readily at a different elevation than the head end, Also the bed support means formed by the projectingangle irons 52 provide for readily tilting of the bed. ..It may be noted that in general it is necessary only to provide the tilting at one end ofthe casket, usually the head end.

For convenience in effecting tilting adjustment of the casket bed, there is provided cooperatively between the tilt plate 32 and the bearing plate 31 a friction clutch assembly. 1

indicated generally at 58. As will be noted particularly from Figures 2 and 4, the bearing plate is provided with a series of arcuatelypositioned recesses 60.. I

The tilt plate 32 carries a housing 62 whichis retained by weld on the plate 32. This housing, which is boredto provide an internal shoulder 64, is threaded at its outer end to receive an adjusting screw 66. Slidably mounted in the here is a detent 68 carrying a reduced diameter end portion '74! which isadapted to enter into-recess 60.0f the bearing plate. A spring biasing, member 72 normally urges the detent 68 toward the recess 60. This spring may be in the form of a coil or suitably comp rises apiece of. resilient material, such as rubber, supported in the housing 62 at an angle to the axis thereof.

Adjustment of the screw 66 which abuts the spring biasing element 7"2 provides for appropriate tension. on the detent 63 and is most suitably provided such that the detent will retain the tilt plate 32 in an adjusted position. on the bearing plate-under normal loading of the casket. bed. This permits the fastening means 36 to be con- 4 bearing plate fixedly supported against tilting movement, a tilt plate having means for securing thereto an end of a casket-bed, pivot means supporting the tilt plate pivotally on the bearing plate, a bracket carried by the tilt plate, a hand-operable rod carried by the bracket in spaced relation with the pivot means, said rod being slidably and non-rotatably mounted on'the bracket and having forcetransmitting connection with the bracket for 'moving; the bracket and tilt plate about the pivot means with respect to the bearing plate, and fastening means for securingthe V tilt plate to the bearing plate to preventjrelatiye pivotal plate, a hand-operable rod carried by the-bracketon. said extension thereof, said rod being-.non-rotatably and slidably mountedon the bracket and adapted for having force-transmitting connectionwith the bracket for moving.

. the bracket and plate about the pivot means with respect veniently adjusted after the rod 49 has. been utilized to place the tilt plate 32 in. its desired position.

It will be noted that the rod 49 is free for sliding move ment when the casket bed is raised and lowered through lowered while the rod is in the tilted position of Figure 6, i

for example, contact of the rod with the casket bottom wall 5 causes the rod to slide upwardly such that knob. 50. V

is out of engagement with the metallic strap 48.

The structure of the tilting mechanism is economical to produceand positive and convenient in action; and. the. knob 58*; as may be most clearly noted in Figure 3, is. always within convenient hand reach of a funeral .director for actuation of the rod 49 and tilting mechanism.

As shown in Figure 6 the bed 12 may be readily-tilted to a relatively large angle. Normally it isonly necessary to tilt the bed very slightly to provide most of the requirements of the funeral director, and the structure shown in Figure 6 is in an extreme position.

It will be understood that where necessary the foot of the bed may also be tilted. Frequently, however, the. flexibility of the bed itself is suificient for thepurposes of the funeral director and tilting of the foot end is unnecessary.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In casket-bed tilting, mechanism, in combination, a.

to the bearing plate, andfasteningmeans for securing the tilt plate to the bearing platelo prevent relative. pivotal movement between ,the bearing plate and, tilt plate.

3. In casket-bed tilting mechanism, in combination, a bearingplate fixedly supported, against tiltingmovement, a tiltplate having meansfor securing thereto. a casket bed, pivot: meanssupporting the. tilt plate pivotally. on the. bearing plate, abracket carried by the tilt plate, a hand.-

operable; rod carried by the bracket in spaced. relation.

with the pivot means, said rod being slidably and non.-:

rotatably mounted on the bracket and. having forces...

transmitting connection with the bracket for moving the bracket and .tilt plate about the pivot means with; respect to the bearing plate, and friction clutch means operablycon necting said bearing plate with said tilt plate to. inhibit dis-a lodgment of the tilt plate-relative to the;be.aring-plate..

4. In casket bedtiIting mechanism, incombination, a. bearing plate fixedly supported againsttiltingmovement,

a tilt plate having means for, securing theretoa casket-bed pivot means supporting the tilt plate pivotally on; the bear-.1

ing plate, a bracket carried by the tilt plate, adjacenia lateral end thereof, said tiltplateend overlyingsaidbear: 7 ing plate and said tilt plateandbearingplate beingcut-out to provide a passagethrough the combination oftheplajtes adjacent the said end, fastening means engageablewiththe H plates; for preventing relative movement therebetwee'n,

said fastening means projecting through said passage-...be-,.

yond the surface of. the tilt plate, said bracket haying fingers on the tilt plate projecting inwardly on, the plate beyondthe passage and adapted to be abutted by the fastening means for limiting pivotal movementof the;,tilt plate. relative to the bearing plate, said brackethaving an extension thereof projecting laterally beyond said tilt plate, a rod slidab-ly and non-rotatably carried by said extension and arranged for having force-transmitting connection with the bracket for moving the bracket and.

tilt'plate on the pivot means with respect to the bearing plate.

References Cited in the, file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

